New music roundup: The Roots, Tijuana Panthers, Justin Bieber with Poo Bear, and Joan Smith

Friday

May 2, 2014 at 4:28 PMMay 2, 2014 at 4:43 PM

For such a massive band, The Roots are musicians capable of shining when they keep things simple. And that's exactly what they do on “Tomorrow.”

The mild reggae grooves and syncopated rhythms breeze along, and guest vocalist Raheem DeVaughn's laid-back, casual attack on the vocals make this a pleasant song, a good one to play in the backyard on a summer day, while sipping a cold adult beverage. Although, honestly, I'm not entirely sure about that odd '70s piano break at the end. It feels a bit … “If You Get Caught Between the Moon And New York City” for my tastes. But otherwise, a lovely little song from one of the best bands around. The track will be on The Roots' forthcoming album, “…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin.”

Picking up the tempo a bit, The Tijuana Panthers offers a fun “who donut?” — buh-dum, ching! — with the video for the band's new song, “Cherry Street.”

The Long Beach, California, band serves up some fuzzed garage rock sound with a bright, indie edge with a side-helping of murder mystery as the band tries to solve the riddle of three deaths in a favorite donut shop. (Note from someone who grew up in Southern California: Donut shops are not as plentiful as they are here. You don't let a little thing like homicide get between you and a good one when you find one.)In any case, the song's a blast, and the video's an awful lot of fun.

A less-fun prospect was listening to Justin Bieber's new track, “Hard 2 Face Reality.” The song, which features singer-songwriter Poo Bear, isn't much lyrically — I know, shocking — but … well … the vocals are actually kind of nice. I know, I know. It's as hard for me to write that as it is for you to read it, but there's a Frank Ocean-like sparseness in this song that's actually kind of working for it.

Obviously, it's unlikely anyone over the age of 12 right now can muster up an iota of sympathy for Bieber and his travails, but this song, as oddly self-pitying as it comes off, is actually not half-bad. A lot of the credit probably goes to Poo Bear, whose vocals really give it some soul. Bieber's vocals are a tad thin, and while it's not bad, Poo Bear's strong tenor really adds some weight.

Lastly, Boston singer-songwriter Joan Smith offers up a gorgeous and compelling portrait of depression and inertia.

If the Blizzard's in Me by Joan Smith

“I know that I quit smoking/ because I ran out of unanswered questions,” she sings in a voice that burns with equal parts anger and resignation. And soon after she sings, “If the blizzard's outside/I'll be at the window/if the blizzard's in me, well …”

The question hangs there, a dropped note, one more unanswered question. It's beautiful, and heartbreaking. It's an excellent song, from an extremely promising singer-songwriter. The song may wrestle with inertia, but one hopes the singer moves forward, because I want to hear more. (Victor D. Infante)